Vane actuating system, in particular for an air outflow

ABSTRACT

A vane actuating system, in particular for an air outflow for vehicle air- conditioning, comprises a first vane ( 12 ) which is held in a frame ( 10 ) so as to be swiveling about a first axis (A), and a second vane ( 16 ) which is held in the frame so as to be swiveling about a second axis (B). An operating element ( 28 ) is arranged on the first vane, which element ( 28 ) is connected with the second vane ( 16 ) by means of a sliding-/cardan joint.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a vane actuating system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A vane actuating system is commonly used for an air outflow for vehicle air-conditioning. Such an air outflow usually contains several vanes, the orientation of which can be adjusted in order to adjust the direction of a stream of air emitted into the interior of the vehicle from the air outflow.

[0003] The object of the invention consists in providing a vane actuating system which has a particularly compact and simple structure.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] According to the invention, the proposed vane actuating system comprises a first vane which is held in a frame so as to be swiveling about a first axis, and a second vane which is held in the frame so as to be swiveling about a second axis. An operating element is arranged on the first vane, which element is connected with the second vane by means of a sliding-/cardan joint. The orientation of the first vane can be adjusted directly by the operating element. The orientation of the second vane is adjusted by displacing the operating element on the first vane. As a whole, a very compact structure is produced, the vane actuating system consisting of few individual components.

[0005] Advantageous developments of the invention will be apparent from the sub-claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 shows in a diagrammatic top view an air outflow with a vane actuating system according to the invention;

[0007]FIGS. 2a and 2 b show in sectional views along the planes a and b of FIG. 1 a first and a second vane of the air outflow;

[0008]FIGS. 3a to 3 d show the vanes of FIG. 2 in a side view, in a sectional view, a top view and a perspective view in a first position;

[0009]FIGS. 4a to 4 d show the vanes of FIG. 2 in a side view, a sectional view, a top view and a perspective view in a second position;

[0010]FIGS. 5a to 5 d show the vanes of FIG. 2 in a side view, a sectional view, a top view and a perspective view in a third position; and

[0011]FIGS. 6a to 6 d show the vanes of FIG. 2 in a side view, a sectional view, a top view and a perspective view in a fourth position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0012] In FIG. 1 there is shown diagrammatically a vane actuating system with an air outflow, which has a frame 10 in which a first vane 12 is mounted so as to be swiveling about a first axis A (see also FIGS. 2a, 2 b). Parallel to the first vane 12, further vanes 14 are arranged, the swivel axes of which are parallel to axis A. It is basically also possible to arrange the vanes 14 in a non-parallel orientation, for example in the manner of a fan.

[0013] Perpendicular to the first vane 12 and beneath the latter, a second vane 16 is mounted in the frame 10 so as to be swiveling about an axis B. Parallel to the second vane 16, further vanes 18 are provided, the swivel axes of which are parallel to the axis B. The same also applies here, namely that the vanes 18 can basically also be arranged in a non-parallel orientation, for example in the manner of a fan.

[0014] The first vane 12 is connected with the further vanes 14 by a coupling rod 20, which is mounted on a bearing pin 22 (see FIG. 2a). The second vane 16 is connected with the further vanes 18 by a coupling rod 24, which is mounted on a bearing pin 26 (see FIG. 2b). The coupling rods 20, 22 ensure that the first vane 12 and the further vanes 14 on the one hand and also the second vane 16 and the further vanes 18 on the other hand are always aligned parallel to each other.

[0015] On the first vane 12, an operating element 28 is arranged such that it can be displaced along axis A on the first vane 12. For this purpose, the operating element 28 embraces the first vane 12 with a slight clearance, so that no separate guide is necessary. On the exterior side, the operating element 28 is provided with a plurality of small depressions 30, which facilitate the operator in moving the operating element.

[0016] Between the operating element 28 and the second vane 16, a sliding-/cardan joint is arranged, which consists of a fork 36, a clip 37 and a cardan cross 38. The clip is held here rotatably in the operating element 28, but could also be arranged securely there. By means of the cardan cross 38, the fork 36 and the clip 37 are connected with each other in the manner of a cardan joint.

[0017] On its side facing the second vane 16, the fork 36 has two side webs 40, the spacing from each other being slightly greater than the thickness of the second vane 16. A transverse web 42 extends between the two side webs 40.

[0018] The fork 36 is placed with the two side webs freely onto the second vane 16, so that the two side webs 40 can move freely along the vane 16. Only two small projections 37 (see FIG. 3b) are provided on the vane 16, which serve as a stop for the fork 36 and prevent the fork from shifting upwards through 90 degrees with respect to the position shown by way of example in FIG. 3b, and from slipping from the vane. In order to make possible a high degree of mobility for the fork 36, the second vane 16 is provided with a widening 34 on its side facing the first vane 16.

[0019] To reduce the friction between the fork 36 and the vane 16, the two side webs 40 are provided with several elevations 32, which lie against the vane. The point contact resulting thereby leads in addition to fewer noise when the fork 36 is moved on the vane 16.

[0020] Various states of movement of the first and second vane 12, 16 are now described with the aid of FIGS. 3 to 6, which can be obtained by actuation of the operating element 12.

[0021] In the state illustrated in FIG. 3, the first and the second vane (and the further vanes coupled with the first. and the second vane) are in the non-swiveled state, in which air, which flows through the air outflow, flows through straight without deflection.

[0022] In FIG. 4 a state is shown in which the second vane 16 is swiveled through approximately 20 degrees in one direction. This is achieved in that the operating element 28 has been moved in the direction of the arrow P of FIG. 4a on the first vane 12. The side webs 40 swivel the second vane 16. In so doing, the fork 36 is rotated by means of the clip 37.

[0023] In FIG. 5 a state is shown in which only the first vane 12 is swiveled through approximately 20 degrees; the second vane 16 continues to be situated in its non-swiveled position. This state was achieved by the. first vane 12 being swiveled about the axis A by means of the operating element 28. The fork 36 is also swiveled by means of the clip 37 with this movement.

[0024] In FIG. 6 a state is shown in which both the first vane 12 and also the second vane 16 are each swiveled through 20 degrees. For this purpose, firstly the operating element 28 was moved in the direction of the arrow P on the first vane 12, and secondly the first vane 12 was swiveled about the axis A by actuating of the operating element 28. This results in a combined swiveling movement of the first vane 12 and of the second vane 16. 

1. A vane actuating system, in particular for an air outflow for vehicle air-conditioning, comprises a first vane (12) which is held in a frame (10) so as to be swiveling about a first axis (A), and a second vane (16) which is held in said frame so as to be swiveling about a second axis (B), an operating element (28) being arranged on said first vane, which element (28) is connected with said second vane (16) by means of a sliding-/cardan joint (32, 36, 37, 38, 42).
 2. The vane actuating system according to claim 1, characterized in that said operating element (28) is moveable on said first vane (l2) parallel to said first axis (A).
 3. The vane actuating system according to claim 1, characterized in that said sliding-/cardan joint has a fork (36), which is connected with said first and second vanes (12, 16).
 4. The vane actuating system according to claim 3, characterized in that said fork (36) is fastened to said operating element by means of a cardan joint (37, 38) and to said second vane (16) by means of a sliding guide (32, 42).
 5. The vane actuating system according to claim 4, characterized in that said fork (36) has two side webs (40) which rest against outer surfaces of said second vane (16).
 6. The vane actuating system according to claim 5, characterized in that said side webs (40) have several elevations (37) by means of which they lie against said vane (16).
 7. The vane actuating system according to claim 1, characterized in that said first and second axes (A, B) are perpendicular to each other.
 8. The vane actuating system according to claim 1, characterized in that in addition to said first vane (12), further vanes (14) are provided, which are coupled with said first vane (12) such that they have the same orientation as said first vane.
 9. The vane actuating system according to claim 8, characterized in that in addition to said second vane (16), further vanes (18) are provided, which are coupled with said second vane such that they have the same orientation as said second vane.
 10. The vane actuating system according to claim 9, characterized in that said first and second vanes are provided with a bearing pin (22; 26), on which a coupling rod (20; 24) engages.
 11. The vane actuating system according to claim 10, characterized in that said further vanes are aligned parallel with said first and second vanes, respectively. 